A wild bear cub was shot dead by authorities in China after it trapped itself inside a school while foraging for food.

Armed police responded to reports of an Asian black bear inside the school in Raohe county, in north-eastern China’s Heilongjiang Province, which had wandered into the corridors at 5am.

Armed with a tranquiliser gun, police who had arrived at the Raohe Third Middle School were planning to sedate the otherwise first-class state protected animal , but plans changed when the adolescent bear became increasingly aggressive.

Briefing: The rescue team shortly before they entered the building (Image: CEN)

Intruder: The bear broke into the school while foraging for food (Image: CEN)

While trying to find a way out of the building, the young bear broke several windows and doors, and began "roaring" at school staff and policemen as they slowly cornered the creature in the stairwell.

Out of consideration for the hundreds of students in the school dormitory and the many more who would soon be arriving, authorities opened fire and shot the young animal dead.

Reports said no-one was hurt during the incident, and that it was not the first occasion a wild animal had roamed into Raohe county, which shares part of its border with Russia.

Terrified: Staff made a run for it after discovering the bear in the school corridors (Image: CEN)

Shot: Armed police fired at the bear cub after it became aggressive (Image: CEN)

A black bear was reported swimming across the border river in August and shocked the residents of a village when it found its way into a local’s house.

On that occasion the animal was sedated and released back into the wild by forestry authorities.

Reports of Siberian tigers and numerous other black bears have also been sighted crossing into the country over the Russian border, including one infamous tiger which crossed into China after being released by Russian President Vladimir Putin.